Machine for bending flanged bars.



A. F. RE'ICHERT &1.P|cHLER.

MACHINE FOR BENDING FLANGED BARS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14. 191e.

Patented Dec. 1T, '1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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Y ATTORNE YJ A. F. REICHERT & l. PICHLER. MACHINE FOR BENDING FLANGEDBARS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. H. i916- Iutented D00. 17, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- l i il kWITNESSES.

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ATENT FFC. Y

AUGUST F. REICI-IERT AND'JOSEF PICI-ILER, `OIE MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

:MACHINE non BENDING. FLAiveEn Bans To all 'whom it may concern: j Y

Be 1t known that we, AUGUST F. REICHERT and Josnr FICHLER, citizensofthe United States, residing at Milwaukee, county vof Milwaukeea11dState of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements inMachines for yBendingFlanged Bars,*of which the following` is aspecification.

Our invention relates to improvements in machines for bendingllangedbars.

The object of our invention .isto'provide simple, durable andvellicientmachine'for bending flanged bars ofdifferentisizes; also to providemeans whereby the bars'may be subjected to rebending operations in thesaine machine; also to providemeans whereby a anged bar of anykdesiredlengthmay be bent circularly to form airing or set of rings ofthe desired diameter, the bending operation being continuously performed`regardless of the number ofrings to be pro duced from the bar.

A further object of our invention kis to.

provide a form of machine'which maybe easily and quickly adjusted toovercome'distortion, to vary the degreeofv curvature or to accommodatebars which differ in size and thickness.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a plan view of a bending machine forflanged bars embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same with a portion of the framepartially broken away to show the actuating mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a view of the table top as seen from the under side, showing.the actuating mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinalsectional view of one of the adjustable rollersfor applying vertical pressure to theflanged bar during the bendingoperation.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of the adj ustable bending roller,drawn on line .cvzr of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the adjustable compression roller.Y

Like parts are identified by the samereference characters throughout theseveral views. A I

. A table 1 is mounted 'upon a supporting bed frame 2 and is providedwith a notch 3 `in its front-v and top margin,the -walls of which serveas a guidefor the bars which, for convenience in description,.may beassumedto comprise commercial angle Airon bars or strips, one ofwhichisindicated by are held down upon V10 is an idle roller.

V Specification ofiLtters Patent. Patented Dec, 17, 219128, l

Application filed February 14, 191e. semi No; 73,185.

dotted vlines a in Fig. 1. The bars a vare fed through the notch 3,the'base `of which preferably has anl upward inclination from the marginof the table inwardly. The bars the table by anA adjustable roller 5adapted to bear upon the upper margin of the vertical flange. HAfterpassingunderneath the roller 5, the advancing end of the bar passes overan antiefricvtion idlefroller 7 Vand its vertical flange then passesbetween the peripheries ofa setof compression rollers 9 and 10.' Thecom-- I pression roller 9 is positively driven, as hereinafterexplained, and serves to feed the stock, (the flanged bar to be bent),rearwardly after its vertical flange has been engaged between thecompression rollers 9 and 10,k its horizontal flange being also engagedeither between roller 9 and roller 7 o r. between the roller V1() androller 7. Theroller Its verticalshaft 13 is mounted in supportingbearings 14 which rslide in a suitable guide way 15 formedin the tabletop. The bearings 14 are pushed inwardly by means of an adjusting screw17. A spring 18 is interposed between the inner end of the adjustingscrew and the 'i' bearing member 14, the spring being provided with acap 19 against which the adjusting screw 17 directly bears. YThe'screw17 has threaded engagement with the table and is manually actuated bymeans of a han-v `dle 20.

Between the compressionroller 10 and the roller 5, an idle guide roller25 is mounted upon a vertical axis, this roller being preferably locatedin a socket 26 formed in the table top, whereby the lower surface ofthis roller is brought more nearly on a level with the inclined baseofthe notch 3 along which the stock is fed. This roller 25 is soarranged that its periphery will bear against the stock and relieve thefriction which would otherwise be exerted against the vertical wall atthe right hand side of the notch 3, after the bending operationcommences, the wall of said notch 3 and said roller 25 serving `toprevent the in-feeding portion yof the stock from swervingto the fightwhen the other end portion of the var explained.

- The bending operation is performed by ymeans of: a bending roller 27whichacts in direct c'operation with the compression rollers9 and 10.Assuming that an angle is being bent to theleft, as hereinafter ironbaris beingfed betweenthe comprese '-1'.

` pression roller 9. The

vually operated handles tively, whereby they may be adjustablv rothereonmay be raisedY or lowered.

sion rollers 9 and 10, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. l, itis obviousthat when such a bar strikes the bendingyroller 27, it will be deflectedto the left, owing to the fact that the bending roller occupies aposition with its peripheral portion on the left hand side of the linealong which. the bar travels through notch 3 to the compression rollers.

The axis of bending roller 27 is tothe right of said line and thereforethe stock will be deliected to the left and caused" to pass over thediagonal roller 30 which is also an idle roller adapted to revolve upona horizontal axis. The shaft 29 of the bending roller 27 is journaled ina forked bearing member 33, adaptedto Slide in a suitable guide way 34formed in the top of the table. lt isadjusted along said guide way bymeans of an adjusting screw 35, and when inthe desired position ofadjustment, is rigidly secured in such a position by means of a bolt 36which passes through a slot' 37 formed in the bottom of the guide way34. rlhe degree of curvature imparted to the stock may therefore .bevaried by loosening the bolt 3G and retracting or advancingthe adjustingscrew 35.

The function of the diagonal roller 30 is not only to relieve frictionof the stock upon the `top of the table, but to correct distortion. iOwing to the fact that the stock A has a horizontal flange as well as avertical fiange, it is necessary to stretch the vertical flange andcompress the horizontal flange when the latter is'passed under theconistretching operation is largely performed by the pull exerted by theperiphery of roller flange to draw it between the base of the notch 3and the initial guide roller. The rear end of the bar during thisoperation tends to bend downwardly, but is prevented from doing so bythe roller 30. which is located at a sutlicient distance from thecoinpression rollers 9 and 10 to easily counteract the downwardlybending tendency. Further, the rollers 5 and 30 are each mounted uponsupporting stationary shafts 40 and 41 respectively, and said shafts areeccentric within the roller 5 (or 30), as shown 'at 42 in Fig. 4. Thisview kshows the shaft 4l, but it will be understood that shaft 40 issimilarly constructed. These shafts are normally stationary but areprovided with mane and 44 respectated or oscillated upon their` axes.When these shafts 40 and 41 have been thus adjusted to the desiredposition. they may be locked in such position by any` suitable means,such, for example, as the set screw 47. In each case. the roller 5, or30, rotates upon the eccentric portion of the shaft.V and by adjust-ingthe shaft, the roller supported The lbracket 55. The `is provided withinterposed between this bolt head and the 9 upon the vertical thevertical vbetween it and roller of these corrugations may besufficiently ling roller 5, is mounted in a sleeve bearing Ymembersupported by a vertical post 5l,

which extends through a hole in the table and through atubular boss-52depending from the table top. The bearing sleeve 5() may be raised 0rlowered and it also may be rotatively adjusted about the axis of thepost5l. To facilitate raisingand lowering the post 51 and sleeve 50, weprovide the sleeve with a bracket 55 having a segmental slot 56 thereinthrough which an adjusting screw 57 passes, the lower end of the screwhaving threaded engagement in a socket or hole formed in the table topunderneath adjusting screw or bolt 57 a head, and a washer is bracket.rllhe portion of the bolt which passes through the slot 56 is reduced insize, the larger portion of the bolt below the bracket forming ashoulder upon which the bracket rests. Therefore, by rotating the boltin its threaded bearings in the table top, it may be raised or loweredandV will carry with it the bracket 55 and sleeve The sleeve 50 is heldin any desired position of rotative adjustment by a set screw 60. whichhas threaded bearing in the table top and which enters a hole in theboss and is provided with a shoe 6l therein adapted to be pushed by thescrew G0 into clamping engagement with the post 5l. The screw (i0 willof course be adjusted to release the shoe from such clamping engagementwhenever the sleeve 50 is to be adjusted, either rotatively orvertically. The rotative adjustment may be accomplished by simply takinghold of the sleeve and swinging it to bring the roller 5 to the desiredposition. while adjustment is accomplished, as above explained, by meansof the bolt or 'screw 57 in swiveling engagement with bracket 55.

Power is applied to the compression roller 9 through a pulley 70, clutch71, shaft 72, worm 73 thereon, (Fig. 3). worm wheel '(4, pinion 75 andgear wheel 7 6, the latter lieing fixed to vertical shaft 77 whichcarries compression roller 9. The periphery ot' roller 9 is corrugatedor milled to enable it to grip the vertical flange of the angle bar 10.The teeth or ribs sharp to enter the vertical flange under the heavypressure exerted thereon and thus feed the stock rearwardly withsnlieient force to bend it when it comes in Contact with the bendingroller 27. A. lever 3U is sulning. that the angle bar is to be bent inthe direction of the horizontal flange, the feed controlling or initialroller 5 will. first be adjusted to its proper position over the notchedor inclined way 3, so-that it will bear upon the upper margin of thevertical flange when the angle bar is fed inwardly through said notch.Roller 5 may be raised by adjusting its cam shaft so that the bar may beinitially pushed underneath the roller 5 l5 and over the roller 7 to apoint where its vertical ange is brought in Contact with the rollers 9and l0, the horizontal flange passing under the roller 9. The machinemay then be started, whereupon lever 44 will be swung to force theroller 5 into pressure contact with the upper margin of the verticalflange of the stock as soon as the end of said flange has been engagedbetween the compression rollers. The roller 9 will then l operate todraw the stock, i. c., the angle bar over the roller 7 and between therollers 9 and 10, but since the fiat under surfaces of rollers 9 and 10occupy horizontal positions,

whereas the stock is fed inwardly along the incline provided by therecess or notch 3, it is obvious that the stock will be bent into asubstantially horizontal position while passing over roller 7. This`operation stretches the metal in the vertical flange. As soon as theadvancing end of the stock comes in contact with the roller 27, 'it willbe deflected Vto the left. The vertical flange will of course bend insubstantial conformity with the periphery of the roller 9 immediatelybeyond the point where such vroller approaches most nearly to roller 10.The horizontal flange will be compressed by this bending operation,.thegreatest compression taking place along its margin. Roller 9,

" however', will be located so closely to the table top as to preventthis flange from buckling. The compression therefore results in merelythickening this flange or widening ithorizontally, and also densifyingthe material appreciably where the grade of material used will permit.

Owing to the fact that the inclined base of the notch or recess 3 leadsto an apex formed by the roller 7 over which the stoclr is beingcontinuously bent-toward the horizontal p0- sition while being fedbetween the compression roller, the rear Vend of the stock will tend tobend downwardly. This tendency, however, will be overcome, not only bythe table top, but by the roller 30 over which the stock passes afterits advancingend has reached this roller. The roller 30, by lifting therear end of the stock, causes the stock to become bridged across thespace between the rollers 7 and 30 and the under surface of thecompression roller 9 thereupon becomes flange *from buckling along itsinner mar-v gin, by .reason the heavy pressure ,exerted upon tS uppersurface by the roller 9. There the stockY is of sufficient length, acomplete ring may be formed, or if desired, the operation may becontinuous with stoel: of sufiicient length to form a series of rings.In such case, the stock will be bent in the form of' aheliX, the endinitially passed between the compression rollers describing a completecircleV and passing over the rollers in making the second turn. To varythe curvature, roller 27 will be adjusted inwardly ,or outwardly, asabove explained. The adjustment of roller 10 will be made simply to varythe pressure.

It will be observed that the notch 3 has a curved left hand walllead-ing inwardly inthe tabletop along a curved line which convergestoward the straight right hand wall. This form of the notch isdesirable, for the reason that curved bars may be fed into the machineat times in order to change their curvature, and when this is done, thecurved form of the left hand side of the .notch permits these bars to befed inwardly along the incline-with the same facility that the straightbars may be fed. We attach great importance to the provision of meansfor feeding these angle barsinwardly to the compression rollers along anincline and bending them over an apex, such as is former-1hr the Vroller7, Since kbyso doing We `are able to stretch the metal in the angleformed bvfthe two flanges. suiiiientlv t0 per-init the bending operationWithout buckling. YVe are enabled inthe operation of our machine to bendstraight angle iron bars into circular form, producing Vrings ofcomparatively ksmall diameter, with substantially smooth surfaced orunbuckled horizontal and vertical flanges. We are also able'to preventthe flanges from defleetingv from their respective horizontal andvertical positions, whereas in other bending machines, so far as we areaware, great difficulty has been experienced in preventing the flangesfrom assuming inclined or distorted positions and in preventing themfrom buckling, the latter difiiculty being -principally experienced inthe horizontal flange.

Qur machine iS equally adapted forbending anslelcers into circular formwith the horizontal flange Outer-most- Wherc this is done, thehorizontal flange passes under, seeth the rollers-25, 1,0 and 27- Thevertical lianes ,passes between the compression i011- -ers Qtand 1.0 inthe Samemennei". as above described The three rollers 2.5, 10 and27preventtheherizental 11a-lise. from Wer-ping or twisting upwardly andthe stretching operation takes place principally at the bending pointimmediately back of the point of nearest approach of rollers 9 and 10.In this operation also, the passing of the stock over the apex formed bythe roller 7, greatly facilitates the operation of stretching the barwithout permitting the flanges to twist or warp out of place.

Ve claiml. A bending machine for angle bars, including the combinationwith a table, of a set of compression rollers mounted thereon andadapted for pressure engagement of one bar flange between them, saidrollers being located in sufficiently close proximity to the table toreceive another flange between either of them and the table, 'anadjustable bending roller located in the rear of said compressionrollers in the path of bars passing between such rollers, an adjustableguide roller adapted to hold the bars to be bent upon the table in frontof the compression rollers, and

an intermediate idle roller between the guidel roller and thecompression rollers over which said bars may pass, the upper surface ofthe table being inclined between said idle roller and the guide roller,together with a horizontally revoluble idle roller adapted to hold saidbars against lateral swinging movements during the bending operationsperformed on the opposite side of the compression rollers by saidbendingroller.

2. A bending machine including the combination with a table having aninclined top surface and a. horizontal top surface, of a set ofcompression rollers revoluble upon vertical axes above the horizontalsurface and adjacent to the inner end of the inclined surface, a bendingroller located in the path of the bars passing between the compressionrollers and an initial guide roller adapted to hold the bars down uponsaid inclined surface while they are being drawn over the same by thecompression rollers and progressively bent by said bending roller,together with a rear guide roller adapted to revolve upon a horizontalaxis in the'path of tthe bars passing the bending roller, whereby saidbars may be lifted above the surface of the table between thecompression rollers and said rear guide roller to faciliate the shapingoperations.

3l A bending machine including the combination with a table having aninclined top surface and a horizontal top surface, of a set ofcompression rollers revoluble yupon vertical axes above the horizontalsurface and adjacent to the inner end of the inclined surface, a bendingroller located in the path of the bars passing between'the compressionrollers and an initial guide roller adapted to `held the bars down uponsaid inclined surface while they are being drawn over the same by thecompression rollers and progressively bent by said bending roller,together with a rear guide roller adapted to revolve upon ai horizontalaxis in the path 0f the bars passing the bending roller, whereby saidbars may be lifted above the surface of the table between thecompression rollers and said rear guide roller to facilitate the shapingoperations, said rear guide roller being vertically adjustable to varythe degree of the lifting operation in correspondence with therequirements of the material.

4f. A bending machine for angle bars, comprising the combina-tion with asupporting table, of compression rollers, means for actuating one ofsaid rollers to feed angle barsbetween them', said rollers beingarranged to receive the vertical flange between their peripheries andthe horizontal flange between their under surfaces and said table top, abending roller having a peripheral portion in the path of bars whichpass betweenthe compression rollers, and adjustable means for applyingan upward pressure to said bars in the rear of the bending roller,whereby they may be lifted from the table top in the rear of thecompression rollers, together with means for depressing said bars on thefeeding-in side of the compression rollers below the plane of the tabletop.

5. A bending machine for angle bars, comprising the combination with atable, of an actuating roller mounted to revolve horizontally above thesurface of the table and having gripping teeth on its periphery adaptedto engage one flange of the bar, a coperative compression roller havingits periphery in close proximity to said gripping teeth, means forpermitting said'rollers tosepayrate, means for resiliently opposingseparating movements thereof, said rollers being adapted to receive thevertical flanges of angle bars between their peripheries and to alsoreceive horizontal flanges between their under surfaces and said tabletop, means for guiding angle bars between said rollers, and

means for progressively and continuously bending such bars in onedirection in the angle formed by the diverging peripheries of saidrollers as the bars move between them7 said bars being forced rearwardlybetween said rollers by the gripping action of said teeth and by thefrictional contact of the rollers upon the bar surfaces, together withmeans for bending said bars downwardly on the iii-feeding side andupwardly on the out-feeding side of said rollers.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in the presence of twowitnesses.

AUGUST F. RECHERT. JOSEF PICHLER. Witnesses:

Lnvnnn'r'r C. WHEELER, RMA D. BREMER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

